10 things to do in Hong Kong

By Christina Pfeiffer

I love Hong Kong. It’s so vibrant and alive. And it’s busy. There’s always something happening in Hong Kong, no matter what time it is. Travel brochures will tell you that Hong Kong is a vibrant Asian metropolis – and it is. The sight of the city skyline, especially from a high floor in a building, is awe-inspiring. When you think about what Hong Kong used to be like during the British era (did you ever read James Clavell’s Noble House?), it boggles my mind as to how much the city has grown. Here are 10 things to do in Hong Kong but, of course, this is only a small sample of the numerous ways to experience the city.

1-Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is the place to go to admire the view. The Sky Terrace has a 360-degree viewing platform that allows you take a bird’s eye view of the city without having to fly over it. The multi-level entertainment precinct has an assortment of restaurants and shops. The bar at the top is the spot for a cocktail as the sun goes down.

2-Ocean Park

If you’re travelling with kids you’ll need to put Ocean Park on your list. The kids will thank you. It has marine shows and exhibitions, such as dolphin shows, jellyfish exhibits and the shark aquarium is pretty impressive. There are also several rides, from roller coasters to log rides.

3-Hong Kong Disneyland

Disneyland is a must if you’re travelling with the family or if you’re a big kid at heart. Hong Kong Disneyland is a much smaller version of the original in California but even though it’s small it still has that Disney allure. And on the plus side, there’s not as much walking to do! You can do it all in a day or even half a day.

4-Lantau Island

Get away from the skyscrapers and spend a few hours at the Tai O fishing village on Lantau Island, wandering through the market stalls and tasting local seafood dishes. Tai O offers a taste of what Hong Kong was once like before if became a city of skyscrapers.

5-Ngong Ping Cable Car

Most tourists who head to Lantau Island board the longest cable car in the world to the Ngong Ping cultural park. The Cable Car ride is a 5.7km trip from Tung Chung Town Center to Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island in 25 minutes.

The best part is the Cable Car ride, which offers a bird’s eye view of the Lantau and the South China Sea. There’s a giant bronze statue of Buddha in the park. It’s part of the Po Lin Monastery Complex.

6-Go shopping

Wander around the Central district and check out the international designer-brand stores. Maybe you might just go window shopping at the brand-name boutiques but tucked away in narrow laneways in Central are plenty of stalls where you can buy inexpensive souvenirs, clothes, costume jewellery, handbags, watches, fabrics and shoes.

It’s worth heading along Hollywood Road and browsing through the antique shops. The shops are a treasure trove of oriental pieces and if you strike a chatty shop keeper, you’ll learn a lot about thehistory of Hong Kong.

7-Hong Kong Chinese food

Hong Kong’s restaurants dish up the most delicious Cantonese cuisine. You can pay $5 for a plate or bowl of noodles or hundreds of dollars at a ritzy Michelin starred restaurant.

Lin Heung Tea House is a popular spot for traditional Hong Kong dishes and authentic dim sum. The wonderful thing about Hong Kong is that dining at a Michelin-star restaurant is affordable.

At Tim Ho Wan in Mongkok, baskets of prawn dumplings and pork buns cost $1.40. It’s the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world. But they don’t take reservations and you’ll probably have to line up for hours to get a table!

8-Bruce Lee

While in Hong Kong, pop into “Bruce Lee: Kung Fu, Art Life” in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum until 20 July 2018. It’s a huge collection of Bruce Lee memorabilia, such as black and white photos displayed in the museum, the documentary produced by the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers called ‘The Brilliant Life of Bruce Lee’, which plays in the museum’s theatre several times a day.

Remember “Enter the Dragon”? Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 and raised in Hong Kong. He lived in both the USA and Hong Kong. He died in Hong Kong at the height of his fame in 1973 at the age of 32.

9-Try snake soup

In winter, Hong Kong’s snake soup restaurants do a roaring trade. Locals believe that snake soup (a large bowl costs around $8) has the nourishment to keep the body going in the cold. Most of the snake soup restaurants are tucked away behind the stalls at the Apliu Street flea market. It’ll be an experience to remember. Ask to see the snakes (they’re usually kept in snake drawers and boxes).

10-Visit a temple

In this city of skyscrapers, there are plenty of traditional Chinese temples to visit. The 10,000 Buddha Temple has more than 10,000 Buddha figurines in varying poses. There’s the Wong Tai Sin Temple, which is Taoist and Buddhist. The Man Mo Temple is the oldest temple in Hong Kong and is the place to worship the God of Literature and the God of War.

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